The peak body representing Queensland’s bus industry has applauded the State Government for reducing fares but warns it will count for nothing if there are cuts to services and infrastructure.

David Tape, executive director of the Queensland Bus Industry Council (QBIC), says the industry supports any move aimed at increasing bus patronage and reducing congestion on busy arterial roads.

“The Palaszczuk Government’s ‘Fairer Fares’ package will have a direct effect on the number of commuters who can now afford to travel by bus, particularly with more off peak discounts and access to free weekend travel for children under fifteen.”

But Mr Tape says higher demand means more buses and drivers will be needed and has called on the State Government not to slash routes and services.

“QBIC hopes the State Government and Department of Transport can see the bigger picture and focus its planning on establishing more routes and services, especially in outer suburban regions which are growing rapidly.”

Mr Tape says the fare initiative will greatly encourage new customers who may not have considered - or had access to - bus travel before.

“Reduced fares will assist QBIC’s ‘Moving People Queensland’ blueprint which showed among other things, the vital need for new routes and more services.”

A new tax ruling which will effectively provide cheaper travel on Translink operated bus services has been given the thumbs up from the peak body representing Queensland’s bus industry.

An ATO class ruling means a salary packaging provider can now offer eligible employees from about 300 Queensland organisations the ability to salary sacrifice bus travel within the south-east Translink network.

David Tape, the Executive Director of Queensland Bus Industry Council (QBIC) says any measure aimed at getting more public use of buses is a positive on many levels.

“Cheaper travel means more patrons will think about taking a bus and the flow on effects from having more cars off the road are enormous, particularly around the heavily congested arterial hubs”.

Mr Tape hopes more employers will allow their employees the means to tap in to this scheme which could save commuters up to 15 hundred dollars per year in bus fares.”

“This should be the start of reducing the costs of fares for bus transport and hopefully complimenting the positive outcomes which QBIC hopes to see from the State Government’s review into fare prices later this year”